Illini Bluffs Middle School

Dear IB Families, This week, a horrific tragedy occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. What happened is unimaginable with the loss of life involving children and adults. Our hearts are with the educators, students, and families of Robb Elementary School and the entire Uvalde community in Texas during this incredibly devastating time.

The safety of our students and staff is our top priority at Illini Bluffs. Over the years, we have focused our efforts on training, developing safety plans, conducting drills, and investing in physical security measures. I wanted to reassure you that we will continue to do all we can to provide a safe, secure, and healthy learning environment for all of our students and staff. Here is a brief list of some of our district’s safety efforts: 

PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT: Our district works closely with Glasford Police Department and Peoria County Sheriff’s Department. These agencies are heavily involved in our safety planning and safety drills. 

SCHOOL SAFETY ASSESSMENT TEAM: A school student safety team, formerly a behavioral threat assessment team, is a multidisciplinary team of trained professionals, including administrators, counselors, teachers, and available local law enforcement, that utilize a comprehensive school threat assessment to analyze and respond to school safety situations. The comprehensive school threat assessment process involves evaluating and classifying the safety concern and the appropriate response and intervention, including notification and involvement of parents and a written safety plan.

MENTAL HEALTH: Our district has a full-time licensed professional counselor and a full-time licensed professional social worker. Our school board recently approved hiring a second full-time social worker to help provide additional services to our students. 

STUDENT TRAINING AND DRILLS: Students receive training on the Standard Response Protocol for lockout, lockdown, evacuate, shelter, and hold. In addition, drills are held for each of these emergency actions regularly. Students also receive strategies on bullying prevention. Please visit this website for more information: https://iloveuguys.org/  

THREAT REPORTING SYSTEM: Students, parents, staff, and community members are encouraged to share information with us that is deemed troubling so that we may take appropriate action. This includes information about weapons, threats, fights, drugs, self-harm, suicide, or disclosures made that are concerning. Reports may be made by contacting any school administrator, district administrator, or local law enforcement. We also encourage the use of Safe2Help. Safe2Help is a free service, and anyone can make a tip to the line via email, text, call, and the website. https://www.safe2helpil.com/

STUDENT TECHNOLOGY MONITORING: We utilize two services, Go Guardian and Gaggle, to monitor student technology for any indications of self-harm or school safety concerns. Administrators receive phone calls and email alerts from these services anytime a safety concern is detected.

REUNIFICATION: Robb Elementary School in Texas needed to gather students and staff at an outside location for reunification. Our district’s safety team will be revisiting our offsite reunification plan and making any recommended changes.

SITE ASSESSMENT: Our district has been putting together the process for assessing buildings for safety and best practices. We have incorporated many security upgrades in our 5-year master facilities plan. We will continue to analyze and prioritize these projects. 

SECURITY VESTIBULES AND OUTSIDE DOOR BUZZ-IN SYSTEMS: All of our schools utilize a security vestibule and outside door buzz-in system.

SECURITY CAMERAS: We have approximately 75 cameras in place around the district.

RADIOS: Key staff has been provided radios to support campus communication processes.

Please reach out to my office if you have any questions or concerns regarding our school safety efforts. 

As another school year comes to a close, I would like to congratulate all of our kids on completing another successful school year. You can be very proud of them and how they represent you, their families, and their school. I wish all graduating seniors the best in future endeavors. I hope they will look back fondly on their time here.  

Undoubtedly, the last two years have been challenging for all of us. I would like to thank you again for your support, understanding, and encouragement. We look forward to welcoming your kids back in August to begin another school year full of educational activities and learning opportunities.

On behalf of all of the staff at IB, we wish you and your family a wonderful summer - may it be safe, healthy, and happy!

Sincerely,
Dr. Roger Alvey
Superintendent